Beach safety

The beach resorts of Scheveningen and Kijkduin attract several million visitors per year who are unfamiliar with the dangers of the sea. Treacherous currents, a lost child, items missing on the beach after swimming. A nice day at the beach can easily turn into a headache or even worse. To prevent these kinds of situations, the municipality, emergency services and the Rescue Brigade are working together to ensure your safety.

The sea can be quite dangerous for swimmers because of undertow currents and rock barriers. Each year the Haagse Vrijwillige Reddingsbrigade (Hague Volunteer Rescue Brigade) rescues dozens of people from drowning. This is why the fire brigade, Rescue Brigade and the municipality have taken a number of measures.

The Rescue Brigade in Kijkduin

Stay informed with the Beach App

Visitors to The Hague's beaches and people who do water sports can use a special app on their smartphones. The app provides information on the safety on the beach and in the sea including:

Safe swimming in the sea

Swimming in the sea can be a wonderful experience, but it also has its dangers. The wind and water currents are often unpredictable. Read everything about tidal currents and other dangers in the sea under Safe swimming in the sea.

Flag warning system

All of the lifeguard posts use a flag warning system. Please note: even if there are no flags it can still be dangerous. The flags are out only when the lifeguard posts are open and when the situation is dangerous.

This is what the flags mean:

A yellow flag means 'Sea is rough, use caution in the water'

A red flag means 'Sea is dangerous, do not go into the water'.

Lost children

Children can easily get lost when the beaches are busy. Give your child a wristband with your telephone number or your spot on the beach. You can pick up a free wristband at 1 of the lifeguard posts. Point out a fixed spot on the beach, for example the colourful 'Nijntje masts' or a beach restaurant. Has your child been missing for 15 minutes or longer? Report this to the Rescue Brigade or police. Lost children are often taken to a lifeguard post.

Rescue Brigade

Beach safety falls under the auspices of the Haagse Vrijwillige Reddingsbrigade (Hague Volunteer Rescue Brigade). There are 5 lifeguard posts from Kijkduin to Scheveningen manned by the Rescue Brigade in cooperation with the coastal detachment of the local police department. Three posts can be found on the Zuiderstrand by the Duivelandsestraat, by the Kijkduin boulevard and at the terminus loop of the Machiel Vrijenhoeklaan. Two posts are on the Noorderstrand: 1 by the Zwarte Pad/Gevers Deynootweg and 1 by the Seinpostduin.

More information

The lifeguard posts are open on the weekends form 10.00 to 18.00 hrs. during high season (June, July and August). The main posts in Kijkduin and Scheveningen are also open during the week in the school holidays.

General number: 070 - 350 41 21

Emergencies: 070 - 355 33 55 or 112

Up-to-date information about swim safety and general weather conditions for The Hague’s coast can be found on the website of the HVRB.